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A review by catherine_the_greatest
Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
3.0
While not as ridiculous as [b:The Big Four|16316|The Big Four (Hercule Poirot, #5)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1372506728l/16316._SY75_.jpg|721292] nor as bizarre as [b:Dumb Witness|16344|Dumb Witness (Hercule Poirot, #16)|Agatha Christie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1295672288l/16344._SY75_.jpg|2393238], this is not one of Dame Christie's best.
First, the title doesn't make sense. It takes place in the Middle East -- first in Jerusalem and then in Petra -- in the period between the Balfour Declaration and the establishment of Israel. The cast features an American family (mother, three adult step-children, the eldest's wife, and her biological teenage daughter), a French doctor, a British medical student, and a couple of old British ladies -- a member of parliament and a recently retired governess. None of them have appointments, just a general itinerary. (The Italian title, "La domatrice," is more fitting.)
Mrs. Boynton, the matron of the American family, a sadistic and obese woman known to have heart problems, dies suddenly about halfway through the book. Her four children, who she financially controlled and emotionally manipulated, stand to inherit her fortune, but that in itself doesn't point to foul play. But her death begins to look suspicious when people's stories don't add up. Multiple people claim to have spoken to her after the estimated time of death and some items are missing or moved in the French doctor's tent. Enter Hercule Poirot, who wasn't at Petra, but had encountered the entire group in Jerusalem and overheard a suspicious conversation. He promises Colonel Carbury, the man in charge of the investigation, that he will find the truth within 24 hours, even if there's no proof.
True to form, Poirot questions everyone involved, noting their attention to detail, their obvious lies and omissions, before a group meeting where he seems to accuse various people before explaining why they're not guilty. Of course, it's never the obvious answer and...once again...Poirot is more concerned with finding the truth than with justice actually being served.
Solution:
First, the title doesn't make sense. It takes place in the Middle East -- first in Jerusalem and then in Petra -- in the period between the Balfour Declaration and the establishment of Israel. The cast features an American family (mother, three adult step-children, the eldest's wife, and her biological teenage daughter), a French doctor, a British medical student, and a couple of old British ladies -- a member of parliament and a recently retired governess. None of them have appointments, just a general itinerary. (The Italian title, "La domatrice," is more fitting.)
Mrs. Boynton, the matron of the American family, a sadistic and obese woman known to have heart problems, dies suddenly about halfway through the book. Her four children, who she financially controlled and emotionally manipulated, stand to inherit her fortune, but that in itself doesn't point to foul play. But her death begins to look suspicious when people's stories don't add up. Multiple people claim to have spoken to her after the estimated time of death and some items are missing or moved in the French doctor's tent. Enter Hercule Poirot, who wasn't at Petra, but had encountered the entire group in Jerusalem and overheard a suspicious conversation. He promises Colonel Carbury, the man in charge of the investigation, that he will find the truth within 24 hours, even if there's no proof.
True to form, Poirot questions everyone involved, noting their attention to detail, their obvious lies and omissions, before a group meeting where he seems to accuse various people before explaining why they're not guilty. Of course, it's never the obvious answer and...once again...Poirot is more concerned with finding the truth than with justice actually being served.
Solution: